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REMlNlSgENgESa 



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^*^ PHILADELPHIA ■^-=-* 



DURING THE 



PAST+HALf+g 



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BY 



-^ A NATIVE OP KENTUCKY + 



Modestly and respectfully submitted, 3y request, to my 
esteemed friend, 

OEORQE W, CHIL.13S. 



{ 




JESSB KNLOAVS PKYTON 



Haddonfield, New Jersey. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

Press of Dewey & Ea.kims, 53 North Seventh Street. 

18SS 



Haddonfield, N. J., Jl'ly oOth, 1888. 

My Esteemed Friend: 

In compliance with your rec;[iiest, that I give 
you a brief sketch of some of the events, public in nature, 
with which I have been connected since my residence in 
the city of Philadelphia and vicinity, I would state that in 
doing so, it brings to mind both grateful and sad recollections. 

You are aware, no doubt, that my native state is Ken- 
tucky. ]\Iy grandfather received for his services during the 
struggle for independence, from his native state, Virginia, 
Land Scrip, which he located in the then county, now state 
of, Kentucky. 

I left Paris, the county-seat of Bourbon county, Kentucky, 
at eight o'clock, on the evening of the Fourth of January, 
1841, and arrived in the city of Philadelphia at eight o'clock 
on the evening of the Eleventh. The Ohio River being- 
frozen over at the time, the trip was conse(|uently by stage, 
and consumed seven days and nights. 

On the occasion of my last visit to Kentucky, two years 
since, I went from Philadelphia to Paris, over the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad, in less than thirty hours; enjoying all the 
comforts and conveniences furnished to the public by that 
great corporation, and at less than one-third of the cost of 
the seven days trip. 

The Twelfth of January, 1841, was occupied in delivering 
letters of introduction to Philadelphia merchants, which 
had been kindly tendered me by their customers residing 



ill Lexington, Paris. Carlisle, and other towns contiguons 
to my Kentucky home. 

The letters were addressed to Thos. C. Rockhill it Co. ; 
Wurts, Musgrove it Whirls ; Atwood & Co.; Wilcox & Welsh; 
Wood, Abbott et Co.: Wood ct Oliver; Caleb Cope tt Co.: 
Hunii & Remington, and others. Ezekiel K. Hunn secured 
a situation for me with J. \\\ (libbs & Co. 

Since the death of .lohn Welsh and Caleb Cope, Mr. Hunn 
is the only survivor of the members of the firms above 
mentioned. To him I feel a sense of gratitude and respect, 
as well as to the others, who, 1 am sorry to say, are no more 
to be seen in the walks of life. It is with pleasure that 1 
assure you that these gentlemen were ever kind and court- 
eous to me during their lives, and attached me to Philadel- 
phia as a home. 

When Henry Pell was writing his letters of introduction 
for me, Henry Clay was present. Mr. Clay asked me if T 
thought a line from him would be of any service to me. 
I replied that I thought it would. Mr. Bell said "certainly 
it would!" Mr. Clay tlieii wrote me a short note of intro- 
duction to Mayor Swift, and one to Henry White; and a 
letter to William D. Lewis, more complimentary to me than 
I then or have since deserved. 

Mr. Pewis was tlieii ('ashicr of the Cirard Pank. He 
introduced me to .Joseph P. Chandler, Morton McMichael. 
Henry C. Carey, .Joseph P. IiigersoU. William M. Meredith. 
Peter McCall, and .Josiah Pandall: all of whom were jter- 
sonal and warm friends of Mr. Clay. These gentlemen, 
wlio were all jiroiiiiiieiit citizens of IMdla lelphia at that 
time, have also passed iVoiii th(^ scene ol action. 

.1. W. <iil)bs iV' Co. failed in a lew months after 1 went 
with them. 1 therefore del i\('rc(l ni\- letter of introduction 



from Henry Bell, to ^^^)lfe & Boswell, and secured a position 
with them. 

Two years afterwards I was in Lexington, Kentucky, 
where I found one of my customers in trouble. I called to 
see James B. Clay, son of Henry Clay, who was practicing 
law in that city. Whilst talking with him, his father came 
into the otfice, and, not ])eing in his usually cheerful mood, 
I asked James wdiat was the matter with him. He said 
tliat his father's health was not very good, owing to much 
Avorriment in rrgard to some financial matters; that he 
had endorsed notes for some one who had failed, and that 
he would have to pay them; to meet which, with other 
obligations, he would have to part with his home, "Ashland," 
to which he was much attached. I asked him what his 
father's obligations would amount to, and lie said he 
thought about forty thousand dollars. 

On my return to Philadelphia a few days afterwards, I 
called on David S. Brown ; stated Mr. Clay's financial con- 
dition, and told him that the manufacturers and commission 
merchants handling American goods could unite and 
relieve Mr. Clay, and never feel it; that it was a duty they 
owed to a friend and national benefactor. Mr. Brown said 
he would see some friends, and talk the matter over, and 
for me to call again in a few days. I did so. He said that 
it was all right, and Mr. Clay would l)e taken care of; and 
that they did not want him to know who did it, except as 
friends, in the sense of gratitude and respect. Thus "Ash- 
land" was saved. 

The credit for this action is due to Mr. Brown and his 
associates, who are with us no more, but have left impres- 
sive lessons to those who follow them in business. 



6 

Wlii'ii my IVioud, William J). Lrwis, was an applicant 
for the ])()sition (if ('ollcctor of the Port, under President 
Taylor, a hitter and malicious faction went to W^isliinuton 
to defeat his aj)pointment. As some of the opponents of 
Mr. Lewis were respectable business men, President Taylor 
sent his friend Balie Peyton to Philadelphia, to ascertain 
the cause of the troul)le. I had never met Balie Peyton 
before, and was not informed l>y him of the ])urpose of his 
visit. He remarked to me that there seemed to be some 
trouble with our people as to who should he appointed 
Collector of the Port. I told him that I was very well 
acquainted with Mr. Lewis; mentioned Mr. Clay's letter of 
introduction, and Mr. Lewis' kindness to me. 1 told him 
that he (Lewis) was in every way well (iualitied to till tlie 
office, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the oood 
people of Philadelphia. 

Peyton asked me if I had ever met President Taylor. 
I told him that 1 had not. He said that if T had 
occasion to go to Washington, to call on him, and I 
would find him a very plain, unpretentious gentleman. 
He gave me a letter of introduction, wdiicli I delivered a 
few w'ceks afterwards. ( )n its delivery, the President sent 
for me to come to his i-oom. He received me, remarked 
that IMiiladelphia was a great city, and if lier Collector of 
the Port was not the right man, it was my fault : that Pey- 
ton came over to learn the trouble, met a relative of his 
own name, a resident of the city and a native of Kentucky, 
wdio had been introduced to Philadelphia by Mr. Clay. 1 
remarked that his choice was a very proper one in eveiw 
rf^spect. He said that he was satistie(l with it. 

That was all that passed between us. J mention tliese 
facts in connection with Mr. Clay and Mr. Lewis, to siiow 



that time alfortls opportunities for us to acknowledge grati- 
tudc to friends for kind acts. 



I Avill not omit to mention to you a letter of introduction 
that 1 had to B. M. Jones, from Ex-Governor Metcalfe, who 
served as a Cayttain in the Indian war under General Har- 
rison. Metcalfe served seventeen years in Congress; was 
elected Governor of the state in 1828; defeated William T. 
Barry, wdio was later Postmaster General under President 
Jackson, who carried the state for President when Metcalfe 
was elected Governor, on the AVhig ticket. 

While in Congress, McDntt'y, of South Carolina, challenged 
him to a duel, which lie accepted, tind agreed to fight with 
rifles. ]\IcDutty declined, owirjg to his being crippled in tlie 
left shoulder. My father drilled Metcalfe with the j)istol, 
and tliree or four times })tit Ijlank cartridges in. The Gover- 
nor, missing the target, seemed to thiidc that that was not 
the mode of fighting for him. When my father loaded it 
with the ball, I remember he made a very centre shot, an.d 
seemed to enjoy the joke very much. The difiicnlty was, 
however, settled without a fight. 

A braver or better man than Governor Metcalfe was never 
born in Kentucky. He was present with my iather when 
he died of cholera, on Satttrday, the Seventeenth day of 
June, 1833. Standing by the bedside with my hand in his, 
he remarked to my father that he could only live a short 
time, and that if he had any rec^uest to make, he had bet- 
ter name it. My father simply asked him to look after me. 
I was then in my seventeenth year, and he never failed to 



comply with the promise. He was a kind and devoted 
friend. 

He was a member of the convention that met in Har- 
risburg, Pennsylvania, in 1840, and nominated Harrison 
and Tyler. President Harrison tendei-ed him the office 
of Secretary of War, which he declined. 



My first appearance in ])olitics was in Fhit Rock. Bourbon 
county, Kentucky, in 1S40. Saturday, the Sixth day of 
June of that year, is still remembered and referred to by the 
citizens of that placi' who were livino- at the time. 

A movement was inagurated to give my friend. Colonel 
John S. Morgan, a reception. He was then representing 
Nicholas and Bourbon counties in the State Senate. The 
call was responded to by tlie farmers in tlie neighborhood, 
and it was proposed to invite Ex-Governor Metcalfe, (Jov- 
ernor Letcher, Lesley Combs and Richard Manatee; all of 
whom accepted the invitation but Manatee. 

Tlie farmers thought a barbecue in tlie woods essential. 
This was agreed upon, and a log cabin was erected, with the 
latch string out, and a live coon chained uj)on its top. As 
the absence of hard cider was thought to l)e a mistake, six 
l)arrels were purchased in Paris, which ai'rived the night 
before the meeting, and were left in the wagon. During the 
night, some mischievous young democrats got into the 
wagon, drew about six gallons of cider out of each barrel, 
and (HKmI them witii whiskey. The next day after dinner 
nearly every one present was drunk: many of them wei'e 
old church members, and felt very nuieh mortitied. 



9 

I never knew until a recent visit to Kentucky, who the 
parties were who committed this trick. An old gentleman 
with a arav beard came and siioke to me, and asked if I re- 
membered him. J told liim I did not. He gave me his 
name, and asked me if 1 remembered my Harrison meeting 
in Flat Rock in 1840; and wanted to know if I knew who 
it was that took the cidei' out of the barrels, and tilled them 
with whiskey. 1 told him tliat I did not know who the 
parties were. He then said it was himself, assisted by two 
other very clever young men, who were much respected in 
the neighborhood. 

The yjresent campaign revives old memories, and ins]>ires 
ho[)es in me that the great-grandson of one of the immortal 
fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence will be 
chosen in November next, to oi)en the second century of 
Constitutional (lovernment of the United States. 



My next vote for President was for my good friend, 
Henry (?lay, in 184-1. We organized a club of Kentuckians 
residing in the city of Philadelphia. There was a large 
meeting held in a field on the line to Frankford. in which we 
led the procession. Daniel Webster addressed the nieeting, 
and the clul), being composed of nati\'es of Mr. Clay's state, 
was honored with seats on the platform. Mr. Webster's 
speech was confined to the subject of protection to American 
capital and labor, and was one of the clearest and ablest 
arguments I ever listened to on that subject. 

After the meeting, the club was invited l)y Josiah Randall 
to meet Mr. Webster at his (Mr. Randall's) house, Seventh 



10 

and Walnut streets, that evening. We did so, and were 
personally introduced to Mr. Webster. 

I was absent from the city when General Taylor was 
elected in 1848; when Franklin Pierce was elected in 1852; 
and also when Buchanan was elected in 1856. 



1859 was a sad year to nie. Balie Peyton returned t«» the 
states in November, after nine years' absence in Chili and 
California. On his wa}^ to his home in Tennessee, he spent 
a week witli me. I gave him my view.? on the future out- 
look of the country, wliich appeared to me decidedly gloomy. 
He thought my api)rehensions were without foundation, and 
said he " would as soon think of slapping his mother in the 
face as to join in an elfort to break up the union of the 
states." 

He had not l)een long in Tennessee, however, when he 
wrote me, and stated that he regretted sadly to find that ruy 
views were based u})on facts: that he could not realize that 
such a state of affairs could exist, an-l asked me how I 
thought the tendency to break up the union could be 
checked. I replied to him that a re-union of the Whig Party 
— the conservative Union Party — might check and allay the 
sectional bitterness tliat had sprung np. He replied that 
the party had been wrecked, and it would l)e difficult to 
bring it together again. T felt that, as he was a promiiuMit 
and poi)ular member of the party, and had just returned 
after a long absence, that tlie Whigs of Philadelphia should 
tender him a diniu'r. Tie thought it would be presumptuous 
for liim to accept the invitation, as Phila|)elphia was undei" 
no obligations to him, and 1 was doing wrong both to him 
and myself in talking about it. I told him that we were 



n 

doing it to bring the prominent^ members of the ohl Whig 
Party together to organize; and, if possible, avert civil war. 
He finally accepted the invitation. 

The dinner was given in the Academy of Music, and the 
party was formed which nominated John l>ell and Edward 
Everett. 

I was a delegate to the convention from the Eirst District of 
New Jersey ; and, wdiile not a member of the committee to 
draft a platform, my views were called for, which were for 
an expression that would commit the party to defend and 
preserve the union of the states— *in brief, it was " the Union, 
the Constitution, and the enforcement of the laws." This, 
in words, committed the party, north and south, to sustain 
the President in fulfilling his duty to the country, whether 
elected by either party. 

It seemed that the current could not be resisted, and that 
civil war was enevitnble. The people looked with great 
interest to Kentucky, and were hopeful that the state would 
hold its place in the Union. The Kentuckians residing in 
the city of Philadelphia, met in the parlor of the American 
Hotel, and expressed their sentiments in a series of resolu- 
tions, which were sent to the Legislature of that state, then in 
extra session. Subsequently, at the suggestion of Joseph R. 
Ingersoll and other prominent Philadelphians, who were 
members of the so-called Bell and Everett party, T visited 
Kentucky, with a letter prepared and signed by tlicm. 

My conversation with members of the Kentucky Legisla- 
ture were with feelings of sincere sympathy and kindness. 
The intermarriage among the families of Kentucky and the 
Southern States created a feeling that was hard to overcome. 
I regarded Mr. Crittenden's idea of neutrality as entirely im- 
practicable. The old gentlemen told me I had better let 



12 

K(nitiK'ky afl'airs alone, and uo hack to N(>\v Jersey, where I 
bclonued. 

The result ol' my visit was in every sense satisfactory. T 
returned witli a k'tter from Major Anderson, of Fort Sumter 
fame, witli antliority from liim to recruit a regiment in New 
Jersey for service in Kentucky — not so mucli for fiehl ser- 
vice as a mixing of tlie people of the two sections of the 
coiintrv. 

When 1 delivered the letU'r to Governor ( )l(len of New 
Jersey, he informed me lliat the state quota, consisting of 
four regiments, was made up. The Governor had long re- 
sided in the south, and favored Major Anderson's views — 
that the trouble then existing grew out of the ftict that the 
masses of the people were not acquainted with (>ach otiier — 
that they regarded each other as foreignei's infringing on 
each others' rights. 

Colonel Young, who })roposed to estaldish a newspaper in 
Nashville, Tennessee, brought a letter of introduction to me 
from my kinsman, Judge Barry, a resident of Tennessee. 
Tnder the condition of affairs, Young changed his purjiose. 
lie went to Washington, secured authority from the Seci'e- 
tai'y of War to recruit a regiment, called on me, and asked 
me to accept the ollice of (JuartiM'inaster. ( )wing to my lack 
of knowledge in military all'airs and tbi' other reasons, I 
declined to accept. 1 saw the ►Secretary of War. learned that 
the aut hoi'ity to Colonel ^^)ung was correct; and feeling 
that every man should do all that lie could to preserxc the 
union of the slates, I then accepte(l the ollice of (jjuai'tei'- 
masler. The authority was published with my name 
attached. 

Kecruiting was then <'ommeuced. and the reci-uits placed in 
Camp reytoii. in the vicinity of lladdonlield. In nineteen 



13 

days fourteen companies were formed, twelve being the 
quota. Two were passed over to Colonel Max Friedman, 
whose headquarters were on Ridge Avenue. 

I had a white elephant on my hands — twelve hundred 
men without means at their command to secure either 
rations, horses, or the necessary equipments for service. I 
went to Washington, saw KSecretary Cameron, stated the 
condition of affairs to him, went with him to see President 
Lincoln, who sent for General Meigs. It seemed as if tliere 
was no one who could give authority for equipping cavalry. 
I stated to the President that the men were without means 
to equip themselves and would have to disband and go to 
their homes unless assistance was forthcoming. Congress 
was then in session, and the subject was brought to the at- 
tention of the military committee. Three regiments of cav- 
alry were authorized to be equipped — one from the state of 
New York, one from Iowa, and the so-called Young's Ken- 
tucky Cavalry from Peimsylvania. 

I was requested to hold the men together for a few days. 
The second day after I left Washington, two gentlemen 
appeared, with authority to purchase twelve hundred horses 
and all equipments. The bills for provisions consumed in 
camp amounted to $2,750. As none of the officers of the 
regiment were mustered into service when the purchases 
were made, the so-called (^uartern^asler was held responsible 
for tlie del)t, which was subsequently assumed by the Gov- 
ernment, exce|)t four months' interest, which I was obliged 
to pay. 

This regiment of cavalry was the first to reach Washing- 
ton after the outbreak of the war. General Harlan, a citi- 
zen of the United States, long a resident of Persia, and for 
some vears connected with the militarv service of that 



14 

country, was iiaiucd l()r the olHcc of First J^ieutenant of the 
regiment: hut owing to a disagreejnent between lie and 
Colonel Young, was not mustered into service. Colonel 
Young was removed, and Colonel Averill, a graduate of 
West Point, was placed in command. Owing to the unset- 
tled condition of affairs in the regiment, instead of being 
"Number One" in Pennsylvania's quota, it was recorded as 
"Number Three." 

The regiment distinguished itself at Salem, Virginia, 
where it cut the line of communication between Tennessee 
and Richmond. 

(leneral Harlan applied for and received authority from 
the Secretary of War to recruit a regiment of cavalry, and 
was allowed to use my name as Quartermaster. The head 
quarters were at the St. Louis Hotel, which stood on the site 
now occupied by the First National Bank of Philadelphia, on 
Chestnut street below Fourth. 

My friend, Samuel Wetherill, who was then residing near 
Easton, Pennsylvania, wrote me that if I would have him 
a|)pointed Major of tlie regiment, he would furnish four 
companies. His otter was accepted, and the companies fur- 
nished. The other eight companies were soon made up, and 
the regiment mustered into service as Number Eleven. 
Colonel Harlan soon retired, and a graduate of West Point 
placed in command. 

I may, without personal laudation, or injustice to any one, 
claim the credit of placing the Third and Eleventh cavalry 
regiments in the field, and am sorry to say that but few of 
the men survive. From the lack of courage and ca])acity, 
I declined to a('eej)t any and all ottieial j)osifions tendei'ed me. 
1 will here state, that 1 found Secretary of War Cameron, 
to have a clearer and more accurate comi)rehi>nsion of the 



15 

condition of the country, than any person with whom I con- 
ferred. He recognized the intelligence, courage and energy 
of an American born citizen; and as the Southern states 
comprised a large portion of our territory, and were made 
up of that class of people, he knew it would cost a great 
many lives and a great outlay of money before tiie rebel- 
lion could be crushed out. 



My next relation with the government was in a suggesion 
made to me by J. Edgar Thompson, President of the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad Company, which was. to raise a regiment 
of cavalry for s[)ecial service in Kentucky, where the Con- 
federate states ol)tained their sup[)ly of borses and provisions. 
The suggestion was ])rompted by the fact that I was a native 
of Kentucky, and was familiar with the counti-y and people. 

A letter to that effect was prepared and addressed to Pres- 
ident Lincoln. It was signed by Mr. Thompson, Morton 
McMichael, Henry Carey, and otber prominent citizens of 
Philadelphia. President Lincoln thought well of it, and 
referred it to General Halleck, who, wisely, and, I tliink, 
properly declined to grant the authority, on the ground that 
it was for special service, and changed it to general service, 
which I accepted ; opened an othce at Fourth and Wahuit 
streets, and commenced work. The men were sent to camp 
Metcalfe, adjoining Haddonfield, New Jersey. 445 names 
were on the roll when the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
was fought. 

The result of tliat battle tlirew a damper on recruiting. 
I found it necessary to have the time allowed for recruit- 
ing the regiment extended. My friends applied to President 



16 

Linc'ln t<> ^raiit the extension. The President wrote on the 
letter to the Secretary of A\'ar, asking him to extend the 
time, unless he had reasons for not doing so. The Secre- 
tai'v of War wrote Ijelow President Lincoln's signature: 
" l"'or good and sutticient reasons, I decline. Edwin M. 
Stanton, Secretary of War."' 

The letter was In'ougiit to me at A\'illard's Hotel, in 
W^ishington. After supper, I called to see President Lin- 
coln, who was liolding a conference witli Senator Harris, of 
New York: . Fudge Davis, of Illinois; and Senator Henry L- 
Wilson, of .NLissachusetts. These gentlemen had called to 
get the President to re-instate General George B. McClellan. 

I was sitting in the ante-room, and while there heard Mr. 
Lincoln distinctly say, that his past relations with General 
McClellan were likt- that of father and son. or older and 
younger brother: that there was no truer Lnion man in the 
country, and that to organize and discipline an army he 
did not believe that he had his iMpial in this or any other 
country: "But, gentlemen, some liow or other, when it 
comes to the scratch. Little Mack won't act." 

Senator Harris and Judge Davis soon left. The Judge, in 
passing out, said: " if you want to see the President, step 
in." I did so. He asked me what I wante(h I stated thai 
1 wantcMJ to know what the Seeretaiw of War meant when 
he said that "for good and sutticient reasons" he declined to 
extend the time to recruit the regiment referred to, and that 
I wanted an answer to the re(|uest for time. He said that 
he could not take part in my (pnu'rel with the Seci'etary of 
Wai'. I said: " \'erv well, sir," and turned toleave. Sena- 
tor Wilson, who was present, asked me if I was ( 'olonel 
Pevton: I told him that was mv name. He said that he 



17 

had received, a few days previous, a letter from William B. 
Claflin, of Massachusetts, iu which I was mentioned. I 
knew Mr. Clallin very well, and could not imagine what it 
meant. He wrote the letter without my knowledge, and 
requested the Senator, if he met me in Washington, to ren- 
der me any service that he could. 

Mr. Claflin was several times in Congress, and twice ( Jov- 
ernor of tlie state of Massachusetts. He had heard my 
views Ijoth on the condition of atfairs before the war, and of 
men and affairs during its progress. 

Senator Wilson told the President that he ouglit to know 
what the Secretary of War meant by his statemenf ; he said 
he would ascertain. Two days afterward, the authority 
extending the time was sent me, l)ut no explanation of 
Stanton's statement. I returned the order, and in my 
letter said I would have nothing to do with the service 
so long as Stanton was Secretary of War. 

I refer to my connection with the War, from the fact that 
the three thousand and forty five troops recruited by me, 
stand to the credit of Pennsylvania's quota to the service. 



When in Washington in 1SG3, I chanced to meet an 
old and intimate friend from Tennessee — a member of the 
Whig party — who was there in company with Andrew John- 
son, the military Governor of the state. We talked over 
the condition of the affairs of the country, and the })robable 
and possible results. I saw him tlie next day, when he told 
me that Governor Johnson wanted to see me. 

In company with my friend, I called to see Governor 
Johnson, who was stopping at the St. Charles Hotel. He 



IS 

informed mo tliat Pri'-i(l"nt Lincoln had M,ivcn him author- 
ity to recruit in tlic states "2-"), ()()() troops, to \i\kv the ]ilaco 
of General Sherman's commaml, winch was soon to move 
south, lie asked me to raise a Brigade to remain with him 
in Nashville; hut I declined, and gave him uiy rcasous. 
He tokl me that the authority came direct ti'om the Presi- 
dent, and that he liad nothing to do with the ^\'ar Depart- 
ment, and all communications would l)e made to liim, as 
military (Governor of the state. 

After a further conference with my friend, who informed 
me that the Whigs who composed the Union element of the 
state were not cordial in their supi)ort < f Governor Johnson, 
I felt that I could he of service to the (Governor and the 
Union cause. After he assured me of Johnson's sincere and 
positive Union views, I called on the Governor again, and, 
after a conversation in which he informed me that he was 
a Democrat, but a l^nion Democrat; that he wanted the 
Union preserved at all hazards; and when restored, lie 
wnnted to see the Democratic party take its i)lace in con- 
ducting the atf'airs of the Government; I accepted the 
authority to raise a brigade, and arranged for four regiments. 
The service being especially for guard duty, in a, healthy 
and pleasant location, I had no troulde to obtain recruits. 
While General Lee was moving in the direction of Gettys- 
burg, I was notified by telegra])h from (iovernoi- .Johnson 
that the authority to him by the President was revoked. 

During mv relations with Governor Johnson, the subject 
of the use of his name Ibi- Vice-Presidt'ut was talke<l over. 
1 told him that 1 thought his name upon the ticket would 
satisfy the public that the war was neither partisan or sec- 
tional. He liad no objection to the use of his name, but 



19 

(lid not believe that it would be acceptable to the Republi- 
can party. 

By the revocation of (lovernor Johnson's authority, my 
authority from him ended, and also my connection with the 
militarv service of tlie country at the same time. 



Durino- the winter of 18()3 or 18(34, Hon. N. G. Taylor, 
of East Tennessee, came east to secure aid for the destitute 
people of his section of the state. He brought letters to me 
from Parson Brownlow, and other citizens of Knoxville. 
I had Mr. Taylor to go with me to Harrisburg, wliere we 
called on Governor Curtin. I shovv^ed the letters addressed 
to me to the Governor, and Taylor depicted the destitute 
condition of the people of the eastern section of Tennessee, 
and asked that their wants be considered,. The Governor 
called the attention of the Legislature to it in his message. 
It was by the Legislature referred and commended to the 
citizens of the state. In response to the action of the Legis- 
lature, a meeting of citizens was held in the Academy of 
Music. I secured the signatures of George M. Dallas, 
Horace Binney, Joseph R. Ingersoll, and many other prom- 
inent citizens of Philadelphia to the call for this meeting. 
Hon. N. G. Taylor was present, and made an address. A 
committee was ap])ointed. through which tlie wants of the 
people of Tennessee were attended to. 

I accompanied Taylor to New York, Boston and Provi- 
dence, Rhode Island. The sum subscribed amounted to one 
hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. The amounts 
subscribed were forwarded by the several committees in 
whose hands the collections had been placed, to Mr. Odion 



20 

of Cincinnati, through whom relief was furnished to tlie 
destitute Tennessee people. 

(leneral Hiram Walhridge, knowing tluit I had incurred 
the expense and performed the work, felt tliat I ought to he 
compensated; and therefore called the attention of the New 
York committee to the fact. The conrmittee responded to 
the General's request. I knew nothing of the matter until 
I received a check, about covering the cost incurred. 

During my trij) with Colonel Taylor through the state of 
New York, while in Albany I breakfasted with Tluirlow 
Weed. While at breakfast, 1 gave my reasons why I tliougiit 
Andrew Johnson a good man to nominate fir Vice Presi- 
dent. He at once agreed witli me, and accei)ted my views, 
in the belief that it would add strength to the ticket. I 
found, the next morning, that Mr. Weed liad "Lincoln and 
Johnson" at the head of the column in his })aper, as the 
republican candidates for President and Vice President. Tlie 
subject was kept V)efore the |)arty, until the convention met 
in Baltimore, where Johnson was placed on the ticket witli 
r^incoln. 

A\ni('ther the country was benefitted or not, I cannot say; 
but I do know tliat the eifort was made from no selfish mo- 
tive, but to serve the country at a critical moment. 



T considered the rc^-dcction of A. G. Curtin, as Governoi- 
of Pennsylvania, on(> of tli'_' important cn'ents of (be lime. 
My IViends in Xcw Jersey joined me in the purcbase (»f Au- 
dul)on's Works, wliieli were very elegantly liomid in Russia 
Morocco, and j)resente(l to biiii at bis second inaugui'atioii. 
The ])resentation s})eeeb was made in the House of bepre- 



21 

sentatives by Hon. James B. Dayton, of Camden. These 
efforts, performed in a qniet way, were deemed essential, 
not only to give life to tlie work being done by Pennsyl- 
vania to save the Union, but to show that it was appre- 
ciated by the public. The speaker elocjuently expressed 
how the people of New Jersey recognized the importance of 
the Governor's re-election. 



I visited Richmond, Virginia, in October 1SG5, and 
found the city a mass of ruins. The people were gloomy 
and depressed. The outlook for the future was, to them, 
anything but hopeful. I mentioned to old friends and rel- 
atives that the thing to do was to start a movement, looking 
to a grand re-union of the descendants of the old American 
families, in 187t). Some of them thought it premature. I 
thought tliat the discussion of the subject would remind us 
of what our ancestors had endured to secure independence, 
and to unite the people under Constitutional (Tovernment 
for their welftire and protection. 1 stated that in such re- 
union ^'^irginia would stand at the front, wliere she was 
placed by Henry, Jefferson, Washington, Madison, Marshall, 
and other distinguished men of the state, in connection with 
the early history of the country. T saw and conferred with 
a descendant of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and others, 
including Hon. A. H. H. Stewart, all of whom thought 
well of the suggestion. 

On my return I called on Robert Morris, the grandson of 
Robert Morris of Revolutionary^ fame, who also favored tlie 
suggestion. 1 sul)se(|uently saw and conferred with a de- 
scendant of each of the signers of the Declaration of I nde- 
pendence. 



•22 

While ;irr;inging plans lor a pri'liininary iiu'ctiiig. to hv 
held ill Independence Hall, the Sonthern states were j)nt 
nnder niililarv oovernnient. This broke the arrangements up 
for a time. It was revived by the New Hampshire legisla- 
tnre. I was in Concord, the capital of tlie state, and was 
there introduced to (Jeneral Thomas Whipple, whose grand- 
father was one of the signers of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. 1 mentioned to him what had l)een talked over, 
and the cause of its failure. He pro])osed that we call the 
attention of their Legislature to it, which was then in sessit)n. 
Hon. Edmund Burke prepared a set of resolutions, which 
were presented and passed without opjiosition. 

Patrick Gilmore, the distinguished musical director, seeing 
the action of the New Hampshire Legislature stated in the 
Boston })apei's, looking to a grand re-union of the original 
thirteen states, i)ro|)Osed to start it with a grand musical 
peace jubilee, wdiich he inaugurated and carried through 
with great success. 

The American institute of New York, applied to (ongress 
for recognition of a World's I'^air, to be held in New York 
city. Hon. 1). .1. Morrell, the chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Manufactures, I'avored the World's Fair, with 
Philadcl])hia as the j)lace to liold it, and thought the year 
LSTb the pro])er time. 

There was some doubt as lo whether the fair ought to be 
held in Philndelphia, or New York. I then visited Trenton 
where the ijcgislature was in session, and had resolutions 
])assed, endorsing I'iiiladelphia as the proper pinee. and 1S7<» 
the proper time. The resolutions were appr.»\ed by the 
Legislatui'es of ( oinieetieut, I )elaware, X'irgiiiia. Xoiili ( 'aro- 
lina.;ind the municipal government of the city of Uostoii. 



23 

Therefore the time and place was virtually settled, and a 
charter obtained. 

xVfter the organization of the Commission and Board of 
l"'inaiice was com})leted, I suggested that eacli leading inter- 
est should organize, and as such, l)e re;)resented in theexlii- 
l)ition. The suggestion was accepted ])y the management, 
and 1 appeared l)eforc the members of the Society to Promote 
Agriculture in the United States, which society was organ- 
ized in IT'S."). The ])reand)le and resolutions were adopted, 
and tlie work of organization commenced. David Landreth 
was named for President, but, owing to his advanced age, it 
was given to liis son Bernard. 

The next movement Avas, to have each of the original 
thirtcH'n states erect a l)uilding on tlie ground as a home 
and ]iead<[uarters during the celebration, for the people of 
the state and the descendants of the state residing elsewhere, 
and re(|uest the Governors to name a day to meet, in res[)ect 
to the memory of the representatives who signed the Decla- 
ration of Independence. The suggestion wasa[t[>roved, and 
the noted New. Jersey Iniilding erected. The precedent, both 
as to buildings and state days, was acce})ted by most of the 
original states. 

In .January, 1S75 while in Boston, I called attention to 
the importance of a Centennial celebration during that year, 
of the battle of Bunker Hill, in which the original thirteen 
states slionld be invited to participate, and which should be 
followe(l l)y a celebration at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1881. 
Mayor Cobb, whose grand-father Avas on General Washing- 
ton's staff" at the battle of Yorktown, favored the idea, and 
secured a letter from Mr. CTCorge Bancroft, the historian, on the 
subject of Yorktown, containing the Act passed by Congress 
a few days after the battle; which he sent, with his message, 



24 

to tlie City Councils. The subject of the Mayor's message 
was approved; the Centennial Anniversary of Bunker Hill 
was apjiropriately celebrated, and proved to be a timely 
and worthy introduction of LS7<'). 

The Bank Otticers and Bankers of the Cnited kStates, or- 
ganized an association to particii)ate in the Centennial 
Exhibition, and to aid financially in securing its success. 
The Twenty-sixth day of June, l-STo, was named as the day 
for the Bank Presidents to meet in Fairmount Park, Phila- 
del[)liia, to see what progress had been made, and to learn 
what was necessary to complete the work; but they were 
soon after checked by the financial crisis, which alaruied 
their directors and shareholders, and contributions to the 
Centennial stock ceased. 

1 have special reasons for feeling grateful to W. A. Camp, 
nnuiager of the New York Clearing House, and to several 
Bank Presidents of that city. It was through the Clearing 
House Centennial Committee that funds were raised to erect 
and kee}) open for })ublic use during the Exhibition, tho 
Bankers' Pavilion, which was entrusted to my care. At 
the close of the Centennial, the building, with the hirniture. 
was presented to me. The sale of the building, with a 
small surplus ])resented to me by the Committee, did not 
(piite cover the exjx'nses incurred in working up the State 
Days. The furniture I still retain, except a few [)ieces which 
1 pi-esenled to my good friends, the lale John Welsh and 
(ieorge H. Philler, as souvenirs ol' that gem of condbrt 
which was formally opened on Decoration Day, Mry Thir- 
tieth. ISTC). 

The Singer Manufacturing Coni|>any of New ^^)rk. at 
mv suggestion, erected on the ground a large building for 
its exhibits, and the comfort and convenicMice of huly 



25 

visitors. They sliowed their appreciation of the suggestion 
by presenting me witli a handsome gold watch, with a per- 
fect picture of the building engraved on the case. 

These acts of kindness, unsolicited and unlooked for, I 
cherish with gratitude and respect. 

During the Autumn of 1875, it was difficult to secure 
the means necessary to carry on and complete the work in 
hand. Mr. Welsh seemed to be much worried over the 
future outlook, which was indeed gloomy. I proposed to 
visit New York, and through my friends get up a meeting. 

The suggestion was favored by Bank and Insurance Pre- 
sidents, and other prominent citizens. Gilmore's Garden 
w^as selected for the meeting. The price for the building 
and band for the evening was one thousand dollars. The 
Centennial Board of Finance would not risk the sum asked, 
and I returned to New York and sold the Banks and Insur- 
ance Companies two thousand tickets, at fifty cents each, 
\\liich [)aid for the use of thu building, and expense of band. 
Governor Samuel J. Tilden accepted an invitation to act 
as Chairman of the Committee of Receptions and was to 
introduce Mr. Welsh and Governor Hawley to the meeting, 
who were to be present a;i;l stale the progress made and 
what was necessary to complete the work in hand to place 
the celebration before the people as a national celebration, 
and as such to urge New York citizens to respond to the 
w^ork. There were about eight thou.-and persons present. 
Governor Tilden was taken with }>ain in his stomach, and 
did not introduce the speakers. I was sinularly affected on 
the first Tuesday in November 187(), Init cast my vote for 
Tilden. 

The subject of his nomination was suggested, in con- 
nection with the meeting. I kept faith. The meeting was 



2G 

a success. The peo[)l(' and [)ro:>s became intert'.-tod. T still 
feel grateful to the Bank and Insurance coi^n])anios of New 
York City, for their assistance' in the hour of need. 

T frequently remarked to ATr. A\\dsh. in looking over the 
vast crowds present, that wlien the generation present and 
})articipating had disaj)[)eared, all recollections of that occa- 
sion would cease to be remembered, and that there ought to 
be a monument erected on the site where the exhibition 
was held, out of respect to the memory of the men in honor 
of whose services w'e were then celebrating the Centennial 
Anniversary; that such monument should bear the names of 
the signers of the Declaration of Independenee: the names 
the official representatives of each nation, government and 
province officially represented ; with tlie names of the mem- 
bers of the Convention that framed the Constitution, 
through which we had made our Independence perpetual. 



In 1879 F. W. M. Holladay, who was the Commissioner in 
1876 for the State of Virginia, was then the ( Jovernor of the 
state. He desired my views on the subject of an appro j)ri- 
ate centennial celebration of the surrender of Lord Corn- 
wallis at Yorktown. I visited the battle field, passed over 
it, and felt that facilities could be furnished for a very com- 
plete celebration of the occasion, by the Army and Navy 
and State Militia. 

I advised him to invite the Governors of the original 
Thirteen states to meet him in Carpenter's Hall in the city 
of Philadelphia, where the lirst Congress met, whose action 
was ratified and eonfiruKMl u})on the field ol' ^'orktown. lie 
thought it would Ije indelicate for him to invite the Govern- 
ors to meet outside of his own state. On mv return, I 



27 

had tlie Carpenters Company extend to him the use of their 
hall, the city government the use of Independence Hall, and 
the Governor of Pennsylvania extended the courtesy of the 
state, all of which were accepted, and the meeting was held 
on the Nineteenth day of October, 1880. 

Arrangements were completed for the celebration. There 
being no funds at command for the purpose, and the state of 
Virginia being burdened with debt, a Citizens Association 
was organized, and funds raised for the |)urpose. The cele- 
bration was a grand atfair. 

1 have no cause to regret my connection with it, as it fur- 
nished an occasion for soldiers engaged in the recent civil 
war to meet on historic ground, sacred to the nation, and 
renew their allegiance to a common country. No centennial 
anniversary of an event that occurred in the struggle for 
independence, has been moi'e fittingl}^ and successfully cel- 
ebrated than the surrender of Lord Cornwallis on the field 
of Yorktown. It was not only a grand display of our Army, 
Navy and State Troops, but led to peaceful and fraternal 
relations witli all present. 

A handsome silver vase, manufactured by Messrs. Cbarles 
Tiffany & Co., of New York, to be presented to the regiment 
or battalion participating, which exhibited the best order, 
drill and camp discipline, it was, through the committee 
appointed by General Wintield S. Hancock, presented to the 
New Jersey battalion. Tlie vase cost $1,000, and was order- 
ed by the committee of the association. 

The death of President Garfield threw a damper upon the 
enterprise and left the association bankrui»t. 1 called on 
Mr. Charles Tiffany, stated to him the condition of affairs, 
and told him that it was at my suggestion that the vase had 
been made, and I felt bound to see the bill paid. He asked 



28 

me wlio was to pay it, and I told him that I would have to 
do 80. He said: "No sir: Tiflf'any ct Co.. can better att'ord to 
'lose it than yon can. It is now settled on one condition, 
and that is, wlicii you conie to New York, that yon will 
always call and see me." 

1 was once more glad that Cornwallis had been whipped. 
I had begun to think that victory was on the wrong side for 
me, as I had assumed a great amount of troul>le and hard 
work, without having, jtrevious to that time, observed any 
apparent appreciation. 



My attention was called to the World's Fair, to be held 
in the city of New Orleans, with a rc(|Uest that \ call the 
attention of the eastern manufacturci's to thr importance of 
their being represented. Meetings were held in the Mayor's 
office in Philadelphia ; in the Governor's office. Trenton, 
New Jersey; and in the city of Baltimore 

As the Centennial P^xliihition was largely ])atroni/.cd in 
attendance by the south at my solicitation, 1 could not 
refuse to comply with the re(iucst. I spent four months in 
New Orleans during the ivxhibition, representing a number 
of prominent l*hiladel[)hia manufacturers. The great day 
of the Exhil)ition was designatinl " Pliiladelphla J)ay"" in 
acknowlcMlgment of the complinii'iit paid, through tlu' i)re- 
sence of the old Lihcrty l>cll. The meeting, over which I 
presided, numbere(l ahout twenty thousand. 1 was intro- 
duced as bearing the name of the first president of the 
first Congress that assembled in Carpenters' Hall, Philadel- 
phia, to whose acts the old hell responded. 

The old bell rested undi'ra beautiful canoj)y. The frame 
work was made l)y an Englishman, and painted hy my 



29 

friend, John Lucas, another Englishman. The canvass 
was presented by a friend, and made by the ladies present. 
The location was near the Banker's Pavilion, under two large 
live oak trees. 

The Banker's Pavilion was my headquarters and was 
visited by persons from all parts of the United States. The 
Legislature of Tennessee was entertained tliere in a body, 
and was so photographed. The Legislature of Nebraska, 
the officials of Mexico, and the noted Mexican Band were 
also entertained and photographed there. 

To the representatives of Mexico I am indebted for many 
acts of kindness. Some of them were officially present in 
Philadelphia in 1<S76. The band, when not engaged, was 
at my service. 

The Exhibition was a big show in a wilderness. The reso- 
lutions jjassed, complimentary to Philadelphia, and signed 
by me as President of the meeting, I believe are in the 
Museum of Independence Hall. 



During a brief sojourn at the Capitol in the month of 
May, 1886, I was impressed with the fact that the Forty- 
ninth Congress, then in session, would close the first century 
of Constitutional government, as it was prepared and sub- 
mitted to the states, and by them accepted. Tlie condition 
of affairs then in Chicago impressed me witli the importance 
of a recognition by the people that our government had been 
subjected to the test of one hundred years, and that we, as 
citizens, should render a verdict verifying the facts of its 
wisdom, justice and beneficence. 

I submitted my views to Hon. \\\ li. Cox, who was then 
representing the Raleigh District of the state of North Car- 



30 

oliiia, ill the Forty-nintli Congress. lie I'ully endorsed the 
suggestion as being proper and ap})ro|)riate. His letter, 
addressed to me, I submitted to eleven members of Congress 
present, one from each of the thirtcHni original states. Each 
endorsed Mr. Cox's letter. 

The Legislature of New Jersey met for a few days to close 
the business of the session. I went to Trenton, the ca|)ital 
of the state; called the attention of Senators and meml)ers 
of the House to the importance of the event, and what 1 
deemed it to be the duty of the original states, in reference 
to an appropriate Centennial celebration of the event which 
would be on the Seventeenth day of September 1S87. A 
preamble and resolutions were prepared and passed, inviting 
the Ciovernors of the Colonial states to meet in the city of 
Philadelphia, where the states were represented in the Con- 
vention that framed the Constitution. 

I called on the proprietors of the Philadelphia hotels. 1 
told them that New Jersev had suggested the meeting, but 
had made no arrangements to take care of them as guests 
of the state. The gentlemen at once proposed to take them 
as their guests, and each wrote letters to Governors inviting 
them and their state officials who might accompany them, 
to consider ihemselves their guests during their sojourn in 
the citv. 1 leel grateful to the pro})rietors for their comjjli- 
ment to my state. New Jersey. 

The (Governors met in Car])enters' Hall in Philadel])hia, 
on the Seventeenth day of September, bSSO, the Ninety- 
ninth anniversary of the Constitution. Tlw original states 
were all re])resented, with one or two exceptions. Resolu- 
tions approving an approj)riate celebration were pas.sed. in 
which all of the states and territories were invited to 
participate. 



oi 

The celebration took place, and the benefit resulting from 
it is duly appreciated by the people tliroughout the United 
States. Law and order has since prevailed and has been 
marked during the Presidential campaign now just closed. 



Governor Biggs of Delaware, wliilst participating in the 
celebration in 1887, asked me what was to be the next cen- 
tennial. He asked the question in the presence of several 
of the Governors. I told him that the Centennial of the 
Inauguration of President Washington, which would take 
place on the Thirtieth day of April 1880, would close the 
series of important events in the early history of our coun- 
try; that the organization of th(> Tnited States under our 
Constitution was the climax of all tliat preceded it, mid 
that the Centennial ought to be so recognized. The Gov- 
ernors concurred, and some of them suggested that I should 
see how the New Yorkers felt on the subject. 

I went to New York; spent over four weeks in tlu' city; 
prepared a call for a meeting, to which I secured the 
signatures of over one hundred of the most prominent citi- 
zens of the city. The meeting was held at the Fifth Avenue 
Hotel, on the evening of the Tenth day of November, 
1887, His Honor, Mayor A. S. Hewitt, presiding. 

An association was organized, and committees appointed 
to carry out the work Avhich is now in successful progress. 
The death of my good friend, A. S. Sullivan, apparently 
severed my connection with the New York management of 
the celebration. 

The citizens of Philadelphia are naturally in sympathy 
with the commemoration of the inauouration of the first 



President, elected by the peeple under the constitution, con- 
ceived and framed in the building in their city where the 
Declaration of Independence was prepared, signed, passed 
and pi'tiiiiulgated. 

They well know the l)enefits resulting from these re-unions 
of our people, and will heartily and cordially unite with the 
citizens of New York in a worthy conclusion of the Centen- 
nial (•elel)rations of the important events in the history of 
our country — this being the climax of the events which led 
to the peace and prosperity enjoyed during the ti]-st century 
of American Independence and Constitutional (Tovernment. 

In joining the citizens of Philadelphia in a pro[)er recep- 
tion to President Benjamin Harrison, as he will pass through 
the city to participate in tlie C^entennial Anniversary of the 
inauguration of his illusti'ious predecessor, George Washing- 
ton, will closr my connection with the celebrations of centen- 
nial events. The public will doubtless be pleased to learn 
this, as it has been more or less annoyed with my efforts to 
secure its co-operation in that mark of gratitude and respect 
which I deemed (hie to the memory of the founders of our 
great re[)ul)lic, in the successful centennial celebrations of 
the important events in its history with which they were 
identified — events which laid the foundation of the Nation's 
greatness and jirosperity, which have since l)een enjoyed by 
this people, and I may say, by the whole world. 

^\Mth fond memories of the ])ast ; pride in the achieve- 
ments of the pi'esent; and my hoj)es for the futuri' of our 
country, 1 respectfully submit tlu^se briefsketches as recjuest- 
ed, and have the honor to be 

Your friend and obedient .servant, 

JESSE ENLOWS PEYTON. 



